Speaking to Iranian Islamic Republic News Agency-Press Shia and on the sidelines of a meeting with Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyed Abbas Salehi in Baghdad, Iraqi foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said the cultural similarities, mutual interests as well as common threats against both countries have resulted in strengthened bilateral relations between Iraq and Iran.

Al-Jaafari, who also has served as Iraq prime minister, expressed his appreciation for Iran’s support for the opposition groups at the time last dictator of Iraq Saddam Hussein, saying Iran welcomed the opposition including him with open arms.

He went on to add “the expanded and deep relations between the two countries can serve as a model for other countries in the world.”

The Iraqi foreign minister concluded “good relations between Iran and Iraq have had good results for both countries, and in practice they have proved to be in the interest of both countries.”